Why Seek-and-Find Picture Books Are Secret Superpowers for Early Readers
If you’ve ever watched a child shout “FOUND IT!” at a picture book, you know the joy is real. But seek-and-find books are doing serious work behind all that giggling.
They build focus and visual skills
Scanning a busy page for one tiny hidden item trains attention, visual discrimination and patience. Those same skills help kids notice the difference between a b and a d later on.
They grow vocabulary
Every hidden item is a word to name, describe and talk about. “Is it the striped one? The one next to the bus?” That back-and-forth is language gold.
They make kids want to reread
Rereading builds fluency and confidence. When there are 60 things to find, kids beg to read the same book again (and again, and again).
How we hide things in the Bentley books
Every Bentley book hides 60 items, 10 of each, throughout the pages. Most of our books add scratch-and-sniff surprises too. In Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea, kids hunt for hidden predators instead! And in every single book you’ll find an African violet and a cardinal tucked away somewhere special.
Tips for a seek-and-find read-aloud
- Read the story first, then hunt on the second read.
- Take turns being the “finder” and the “hint giver.”
- Keep a tally sheet so kids can count what they’ve found.
- Celebrate the hunt, not just the finding.
Want ready-made hunt sheets? Each of our printable activity packs includes a hunt page matched to its book, plus mazes, puzzles and coloring. Happy hunting!
